Bridging Psychological and Spiritual Responses in Disaster Recovery: A Case Study of Punjab Floods 2025

The 2025 floods in Punjab, India, constitute one of the most devastating natural disasters of recent times, displacing over 380,000 people across 1,400 villages and profoundly impacting the socio-economic and environmental fabric of the region. This interdisciplinary research investigates the multifaceted human responses to the calamity through psychological, spiritual, literary, and cultural lenses, with particular attention to community resilience and creative advocacy. Drawing on primary data, recent scholarship, and field observations, the study explores how flood survivors cope with trauma by relying on collective storytelling, peer support, and faith-based rituals. The critical relief efforts of NGOs such as Khalsa Aid and faith organizations like Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) are examined, highlighting their pivotal roles in providing shelter, food, and medical aid despite challenges posed by the floods. The study also underscores the influential participation of Punjabi celebrities, including Diljit Dosanjh and Ammy Virk, in fundraising and awareness campaigns, which helped scale relief operations and sustain morale. Artistic expressions—ranging from folk poetry and digital storytelling to celebrity concerts—serve as vital channels for transforming narratives of loss into those of hope and ecological consciousness. Finally, the paper situates these responses within the broader context of Indian eco-literary traditions and disaster recovery frameworks that integrate mental health, spirituality, and environmental stewardship. By illuminating how language, culture, and collective action function as sites of solidarity, this study contributes to evolving discourses on sustainable and inclusive disaster resilience, offering valuable lessons for policy and community practice amid escalating climate crises.